CFAR
Coalition for Fresh Air Rights
This legislation is supported by the Coalition for Fresh Air Rights (CFAR), a joint project of M-POWER (Massachusetts People/patients Organized for Wellness, Empowerment and Rights, The Disability Law Center, The Protection and Advocacy System of Massachusetts who are funding and staffing the project. For more info contact Jon Dosick, at 617-442-4111 ext. 368
UPDATE:
In 2006, the legislature voted to restore Dental and Vision Benefits to MassHealth beneficiaries! Thank you to everyone who worked to make this happen, and to the legislators who recognized the importance of these services to overall health! Well done!
Dental Care is Essential for People Who Take Psychiatric Medications. Many Psychiatric Medications Cause Dry Mouth:
The bill (H-3101) to restore Dental Care for Mass. Health recipients and bill (H-2762) restoring both dental/vision and other services including prosthetics are being sponsored by Representative Teahan and are currently in the Health Finance Committee, chaired by Representative Patricia Walrath. She is in room 236. You could also contact your own legislator concerning these bills..
Is there a drought in your mouth ?*
Saliva is the “workhorse of the mouth” Saliva is necessary to help protect the teeth in these important ways:
Saliva is 98% water and includes antibodies, enzymes and mucoprotein and gives saliva that slimy feeling.
There are three sets of saliva glands, each producing different proportions of mucous and serous saliva.
Saliva constantly flushes the mouth to clear food debris that may act as a food supply for the bacteria in plaque.
It reduces the acidity in the mouth which helps to limit tooth decay by these acid attacks
Saliva contains fluorides and minerals needed to rebuild damaged tooth enamel.
It help digest food
It prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth through its antimicrobial action.
Dry Mouth can:
Be caused by certain medication or medical treatments
Cause difficulties tasting, chewing, swallowing, and speaking
Increase your chance of developing tooth decay and other infections in the mouth
Be a sign of certain diseases and conditions
*This information was obtained from www.dentalgentlecare.com/dry_mouth.htm
FACT SHEET: Emergency Room Rights bills
"Balser House Bill No 2042 & Koutoujian House Bill No 1891” (2007-2008)
Balser House Bill No 2042: “An Act to protect the mentally ill in emergency rooms”
Chief sponsor Rep. Ruth B. Balser, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Committee
H 2042 requires the department of public health (DPH) & the department of mental health (DMH) to write new regulations concerning psychiatric and behavioral health patients in ERs. H 2042 gives mental health advocates, such as M-POWER and NAMI-MASS a seat at the table in policy discussions. H 2042 lets us negotiate more humane and effective treatment.
Koutoujian House Bill No 1891: “An Act relative to the treatment of mentally ill patients in emergency room facilities”
Chief sponsor Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, Public Health Committee
H 1891 gives DMH licensing authority over medical hospital emergency rooms, instead of DPH. ER staff unnecessarily fear mentally ill people because of the stigma of mental illness and a lack psychology training. This leads to discrimination and outrageous abuse. Abuses are not isolated incidents but rather result from mistaken system-wide policy. If H 1891 becomes law, DMH investigators will handle complaints about mistreatment. DMH better handles complaints by people labeled with “mental illness” than DPH.